Collapsible file drawer insert



1965 D. s. SCHWARTZ COLLAPSIBLE FILE DRAWER INSERT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 21, 1964 Z u /M mm ww ww Q m 0 Oct. 26, 1965 D. s. SCHWARTZ 3,214,077

COLLAPSIBLE FILE DRAWER INSERT Filed Feb. 21, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

DAVE/Y9 S. SCHWARTZ WMJM AT TOFPNEYS United States Patent 3,214,077 COLLAPSIBLE FILE DRAWER INSERT David S. Schwartz, 2704 Raleigh Ave. S., Minneapolis, Minn. Filed Feb. 21, 1964, Ser. No. 346,424 2 Claims. (Cl. 229-34) This invention relates generally to file cabinet constructions, and more particularly it relates to an improved type of file drawer construction, often referred to as a transfer file, suitable for storing and receiving correspondence and other papers and materials.

An important object of the present invention is the pro vision of a collapsible file holding insert for file cabinets which is adapted to fit just within the inside dimensions of a standard file cabinet drawer of either letter or legal size and provides ready transfer of the files since the inserts may be quickly and easily removed from the filing cabinet drawers.

Another important object of the present invention is that it may be used equally well with the hanging file folder or suspension file folder as it is sometimes called as with conventional unsupported file folders in letter, legal and other sizes. The fact that it has the metal rails on its side walls makes possible the easy sliding of such suspension folders as well as a strengthener for the insert.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provisison of a collapsible file holding insert for file cabinets which may be shipped and stored in a fiat condition and quickly and easily assembled as needed.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a collapsible file holding insert for file cabinets which includes means for releasably securing the opposed side walls to the end walls and also for securing a novel handle construction to the end walls.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a collapsible file holding insert for file cabinets which includes elongated metallic strips secured to the upper edge portions of the opposite side walls for supporting suspension file folders having projecting ears adapted to rest on the metallic supporting strips of the side walls.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a collapsible file holding insert in which the above-noted elongated metallic strips for the opposite side walls define inturned wing tabs adapted to lie adjacent corresponding end walls and be secured thereto.

Other objects of the present invention reside in the provision of a collapsible file holding insert for file cabinets may be used as a separate storage unit with its own cover, which is strong and durable but light in Weight, and which is relatively inexpensive to produce.

The above and still further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed specification, attached claims and appended drawings.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts or elements throughout the several views;

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the blank from which the present invention is formed;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view in perspective showing the file holding insert of the present invention in a partially assembled condition;

FIG. 3 is a view in perspective of one part of the present invention with an intermediate portion thereof broken away;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view in perspective of the present invention in a completely assembled condition, and showing a portion of a cabinet drawer in which the file holding insert is adapted to fit; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view in section taken generally 3,214,077 Patented Oct. 26, 1965 ice on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4, with some parts being broken away.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly FIG. 1 thereof, the file holding insert of the present invention is constructed from a blank of sheet material, such as corrugated paperboard, cut and scored to define the various wall elements of the structure. Accordingly, the bottom 1 is defined by side score lines 2, 3 and end score lines 4, 5, shown particularly in FIG. 1. The side walls 6, 7 fold along the respective score lines 2, 3, and the end walls 8, 9 fold along the end score lines 4, 5. The folded positions of the side walls and end walls are shown particularly in FIG. 4.

In accordance with the present invention, the sidewalls 6, 7 are formed to define inturned end flaps 10 which may be folded along corresponding score lines 11, as illustrated in FIG. 2. The end flaps 10 are formed to overlap and form a part of the end walls 8, 9 of the structure when the side walls 6, 7 are in an upright folded condition. The end flaps 10 are approximately one-half the width of the end walls 8, 9 so that the end edges 12 of the flaps 10 will generally abut when in a folded condition. It is noted that the score lines 11 are offset inwardly from the score lines 4, 5 so that the end fiaps 10 will conveniently fit within but lie generally adjacent to the corresponding main panels of the end walls 8, 9.

Each of the end walls 8, 9 defines closely spaced generally parallel score lines 13 spaced from the corresponding score lines 4, 5 a distance generally equal to the height of the end flaps 10 whereby to define inner flaps 14 on the end walls 8, 9 adapted to bend over and generally enclose the corresponding end flaps 10 when the file holding insert is in an assembled or erected condition.

An important feature of the present invention is the provision of novel means for securing the side walls of the file holding insert to the end walls thereof. Elongated strip supports, represented generally by the reference numeral 15, are secured to the upper edge portions of the side walls 6, 7. One of the strip supports 15 is shown particularly in FIG. 3, and the same comprises an intermediate portion 16 which is cross-sectionally generally of an inverted U-shape so as to define a channel 17 adjacent one side thereof which is adapted to fit on the upper edge portion of the side walls 6, 7. The U-shaped or clip portion which defines the channel 17 is designed to clip over the edge portion of the side walls 6, 7 so that the short lip thereof extends over the inner surfaces of the side walls 6, 7. The strip supports 15 may be formed from any suitable material, although it has been found that a metallic sheet material gives good performance. The strip supports 15 are longer than the length of the side walls 6, 7 whereby the opposite end portions thereof define wing tabs 18 which are adapted to be generally coextensive with the end flaps 10 of the side walls 6, 7 when the wing tabs 18 are bent inwardly approximately as illustrated in FIG. 2. As shown therein, the wing tabs 18 are adapted to fit between the corresponding end walls 8, 9 and the adjacent end flaps 10 when the walls are in a folded or assembled condition. With this arrangement, the file holder or box is strengthened, and convenient means is provided for securing the side walls 6, 7 thereof to the end walls 8, 9.

Means is provided for securing the main panels of the end walls 8, 9, the end flaps 10 of the side walls 6, 7 and the wing tabs 18 all together. As a part thereof, a pair of handles 19 are also secured each one to a different one of the end walls 8, 9. More particularly, the handles 19 are of the bale type and define axially aligned oppositely projecting end portions 20. Also, a pair of U- shaped brackets 21 are provided for each of the handles 19 for securing the end portions 20 thereof to the end walls 8, 9 and also securing the components of the end walls 8, 9 together.- which fit over the inside of the end walls 8, 9 and also define outer flanges 23 having bearing channels 24 which fit over the outer surfaces of the end walls 8, 9. The inner and outer flanges 22, 23 of the brackets 21 define aligned apertures which are also alignable with corresponding apertures in the end walls 8, 9. The apertures in the main panels of the end walls 8, 9 are represented by the reference numerals 25, the alignable apertures in the wing tabs 18 are denoted by the reference numerals 26, the alignable apertures in the end flaps 10 by the reference numerals 27, and the alignable apertures in the inner flaps 14 by the reference numerals 28. In order to provide means for quickly and conveniently securing the brackets 21 and the various components of the end walls 8, 9 together, bolts 29 and corresponding wing nuts 30 may be provided. With this arrangement, the handles 19 are mounted on the outer surfaces of the end walls 8, 9 for movements between upper positions shown by full lines in FIGS. 4 and 5 and lower position shown by dotted lines in FIG. 5.

The upper edges of the strip supports provide bearing surfaces for suspension file folders 31, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. The suspension file folders 31 are normally formed with spaced wall portions having outwardly projecting ears 32 adapted to rest and ride upon the edge surfaces provided by the strip supports 15. As shown in FIG. 4, the file holding insert of the present invention is adapted to fit within a conventional file drawer 33 of a filing cabinet whereby the files contained within the insert may be conveniently and quickly transferred from one drawer to another or stored. In some cases, the file holding insert disclosed herein may be provided with its own cover or inclosure, not shown.

It is further noted that one of the end walls 8 of the file holding insert may be provided with a conventional card case 34 having tabs 35 for securing the same to the wall of the structure.

This invention has been thoroughly tested and found to be completely satisfactory for the accomplishment of the above-noted objects; and while a preferred embodiment thereof in which the principles of the present invention have been incorporated has been shown and described above, it should be specifically understood that The brackets 21 define inner-flanges 22 the same may be modified without departure from the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a collapsible file holding insert for file cabinets,

said insert being formed from a blank of sheet material cut and scored to define, when in an operative folded condition, a bottom, opposed side Walls and opposed end walls connected to the bottom,

said side walls each defining inturned end flaps which overlap and form a part of the corresponding end walls when said walls are in a folded condition,

a pair of elongated metallic strip supports each one secured to the upper edge portion of a different one of said side walls,

means for releasably securing said opposed side walls to said end walls, said means comprising:

(a) a pair of wing tabs defined by projecting opposite end portions of said elongated strip supports on each of said side walls, and

(b) said wing tabs on the side walls being inserted between the corresponding end walls and the end flaps of said side Walls when said walls are in a folded condition,

(c) a pair of handles each one positioned adjacent the upper edge portion of a different one of the end walls, and

(b) means for securing said wing tabs and said handles to said end walls.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 in which said strip supports are cross-sectionally of an inverted U-shape and define downwardly opening channels to fit on said edge portions of the side walls.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 755,911 4/82 Bartram. 1,245,479 11/17 Lundy 22952 2,159,069 5/39 Zalking 22949 X 2,206,084 7/40 'Fello-wes 22949 X 2,268,236 12/41 Baird 229-49 X 2,954,914 10/60' Herlihy 22934 GEORGE O. RALSTON, Primary Examiner.

FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Examiner. 

1. IN A COLLAPSIBLE FILE HOLDING INSERT FOR FILE CABINETS, SAID INSERT BEING FORMED FROM A BLANK OF SHEET MATERIAL CUR AND SCORED TO DEFINE, WHEN IN AN OPERATIVE FOLDED CONDITION, A BOTTOM, OPPOSED SIDE WALLS AND OPPOSED END WALLS CONNECTED TO THE BOTTOM, SAID SIDE WALLS EASCH DEFINING INTURNED END FLAPS WHICH OVERLAP AND FORM A PART OF THE CORRESPONDING END WALLS WHEN SAID WALLS ARE IN A FOLDED CONDITION, A PAIR OF ELONGATED METALLIC STRIP SUPPORTS EACH ONE SECURED TO THE UPPER EDGE PORTION OF A DIFFERENT ONE OF SAID SIDE WALLS, MEANS FOR RELEASABLY SECURING SAID OPPOSED SIDE WALLS TO SAID END WALLS, SAID MEANS COMPRISING: (A) A PAIR OF WING TABS DEFINED BY PROJECTING OP- 